|
Upper Islamouth and Meikleour House Pools:
Islamouth
This is the "famous" Islamouth pool, on the left bank, where the River Isla comes down and meets up with the Tay. It is traditionally a great place to catch a fish on both fly and spinner. You can fish it from the bank but it is best from the boat when you start by casting your fly out to the left, towards the Isla, and then to both left and right as you come round into the tail. You often find you are accompanied here by stately swans or families of ducks with their young. |
 |
Castle Pool
The Castle Pool, on the right bank, is so named as it lies below the ruins of old Kinclaven Castle. It is a wonderful pool to wade, not at all difficult, especially in low to medium water. Many fish have been caught in this pool which is right opposite Islamouth. In low water you wade out from a gravel shingle, often graced by little bobbing wagtails or a dipper. It runs right down to the white post denoting where the Lower Islamouth Beat begins. You can also fish the Castle from the boat, casting out to the right, with much success. |
 |
Gow's Run
We're now into Upper Islamouth, a short double-bank stretch that runs from Kinclaven Bridge down to the Isla junction. Gow's Run is on the left bank right in tight against the wall, opposite Ferry Cottage and where the two boats tie up. In low water you can stand on a spit of gravel and see how close to the wall you can place your fly - that's where the fish will be. In high water you can stand on the bank and spin. |
 |
Bridge Pool (Kinclaven)
This left bank pool sits right above Kinclaven Bridge so you often see people hanging over the edge looking longingly at the water. Frequently fished from the bank, it is also good from the boat. There is an old avenue of huge trees coming down to the bank denoting the path taken by folk coming down to the ferry which carried them across before the bridge was built |
 |
Apple Haugh
Another left bank pool, the Apple Haugh is quieter water fishable from both the bank and boat. It runs parallel with the Meikleour House woodland garden and affords some lovely peeks through the trees to the magnificent rhododendrons and azaleas within. Watch out for the ospreys in summer, gliding lazily above |
 |
Cormorant Tree
This is a right bank pool named after an old tree which had been struck by lightning where cormorants used to perch in winter months. A croy was put in several years ago and a fish is often to be found nearby. It is good at most heights, generally fished from the boat. |
 |
House Pool
This left bank pool is spectacularly overlooked by Meikleour House which towers above it. It is best fished from the boat though can be very good in high water off the bank. There is an easy access croy here as well. You can fish out both sides of the boat as you approach the tail. |
 |
Pump House Croy
Another left bank pool, this one is right beside the House Beat hut. It can be fished either from the bank in high water or from the boat in medium to low water. The croy makes a handy access to the boat for anglers. This pool is a place of beauty in the late spring with large mature rhododendrons along the adjacent pathway and the bank full of wildflowers |
 |
Boxwood Bush
On the left bank, this pool fishes well in most heights of water. You can fish from the bank, near the old box bush that gives the pool its name; you can wade out in low water and walk down a few dozen metres, casting to both sides; or you can fish it from the boat. The tail of this pool is particularly good for the fly, where we placed a number of large rocks where the fish like to hide. Take a look at the wonderful hornbeam tree with its spreading crown. |
 |
Birch Bank
On the left bank, this is a long stretch of deep water, best fished from the boat. The willows and birches make perfect reflections in the dark water. It holds fish in medium to low water and has lovely views both up and down stream. Watch out for the kingfisher darting up and down to its nest somewhere on the opposite bank. |
 |
Tunnel Pool
This is a right bank pool, also known as the Tunnel Hole. It is very deep and dark water. It can be fished from the boat when you can get a hold but is mostly fished from the bank as the river pushes tight down this side. It is best in low water. You can see from all the large rocks placed along this stretch that the river has burst its banks on more than one occasion at this point. |
 |
Tunnel Stream
This is a right bank, shallow, gravelly run but very fast moving. You always feel like you're about to catch a fish here. It fishes best with a fly, either wading in low water when you are deposited on a small gravel island and can wade down, or from an anchored boat in higher water. It tails off into very deep water, the Tunnel Hole
|
 |
March Pool
This is a right bank pool at the upper limit of the House Beat. It is a long and generally quite deep pool which can be fished in most heights of water. It is usually fished from the left bank, the best spot being right under the wires. The March Pool is a vision of wild flowers in early summer when you can often see and hear the black-headed gulls which nest on the shingle opposite. |
 |
|
